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Aboard a riverboat deep in the heart of Peru’s flooded Amazon region, you’ll help to conserve river dolphins and monkeys, and protect the fragile South American wilderness.

The vast, pristine Amazonian forests of northeastern Peru are home to an incredible array of wildlife. Pink river dolphins and caimans still swim these waters, while extraordinary birds fly through the canopy. Uakari monkeys abound along the Yavari River and manatees swim in the lakes of Samiria. Rare giant river otters can sometimes be seen hunting and playing in area lakes and rivers.

So far, this remote region of the Amazon is safe from the intrusion of illegal timber companies, pet traders, and hunters. As part of an Earthwatch team, you’ll help to survey the area’s wildlife to develop conservation strategies for the region and the people who inhabit it.

You’ll journey aboard a restored, remodeled, air-conditioned vessel from the Rubber Boom era. You’ll travel for two days along the Samiria River into the heart of Peru’s fabled Amazon region. There, in the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve, you’ll discover a flooded forest whose waters run from the Andes Mountains to create a delicate wilderness. You’ll also have the opportunity to meet and work with the Cocama people from a nearby village. With your help, Earthwatch and the Cocama will develop management plans to protect both the needs of the Cocama people and the wildlife of the Samiria River basin.

Lead scientists

Accommodations and food

Why the research is important

Why the research is important

The animals you’ll monitor provide key information about the health of the ecosystem and the sustainability of traditional hunting and fishing.

Global climate change and human intrusions threaten the Peruvian Amazon. Help us conduct critical surveys to protect this pristine wilderness.

The Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve, the location of this study, is a rare example of how conservation can work in collaboration with local people. Today, global climate change, bringing severe droughts and floods, threatens even this protected area. Your help is critical in the effort to survey, manage, and protect the region so that wildlife and local human communities can thrive together.

What does it take to contribute to such an important project? You’ll float down a lazy river, watching dolphins leap and counting the macaws as they fly overhead. You’ll monitor the waters for once-endangered caiman, and keep your eyes open for large fish as the swim slowly by. If you’re lucky, you’ll spot recovering populations of giant river otters and manatees. And if you’re on hand during the dry season (August-November) you’ll count wading birds at the mouth of the Samiria river. You may catch and release river dolphins, measuring their health and growth.

Help conserve wildlife of the Samiria River basin.

When you’re ready for more strenuous work, you’ll climb aboard a canoe or motorized boat, and explore the shoreline, seeking out river turtles and helping to protect their eggs. Or you may walk slowly and quietly through the forest to record the movements of peccaries, tapirs, primates, and game birds. Working with local community members, you’ll learn about local fishing, hunting, and conservation efforts.

About the research area

Samiria River, Peru, South America

Imagine motoring through the Amazon rainforests on your on air conditioned boat, complete with bar, tasty and ample cuisine, and a staff of trained researchers to explain and describe your surroundings. Now, imagine arriving at your destination: a flooded forest virtually overflowing with a diverse array of plant and animal species. You’ll share this tropical environment with beautiful birds, flowers, monkeys, and more aboard a restored riverboat you’ll call home during your expedition.

During your stay in the Amazon, you’ll paddle among lakes and along shorelines. You’ll motor into smaller rivers and tributaries. And you’ll walk along forest paths, observing wildlife and monitoring the environment. In the evening, you’ll return to your boat for a well-cooked meal along with lectures, movies, or sometimes even dancing.

While in the Amazon, you’ll have the opportunity to interact with local people from a number of villages. The research team has formed very positive relationships with these communities over the past 16 years, and you can expect an open and friendly reception.

Samiria River, Peruvian Amazon

Daily life in the field

Itinerary

Day 2: Travel to Nauta and board riverboat; Begin navigating the Amazon

Daily activity includes:

• Dolphin Census

• Terrestrial Transect

• Macaw Monitoring

• Fishing Census

• Caiman Tracking

• Bat Census

Final two days: Visit local Cocama community along the river; navigate back to Nauta, and return to Iquitos

Once you arrive via riverboat to your destination deep within the Amazon, wildlife surveys will run each day. You’ll get to try your hand at all research tasks (and can spend extra time on your favorites). You'll:

Search for dolphins.
As you boat along with the current, you'll spot, count, and identify the species of individual pink river dolphins and grey dolphins.

Hike the rainforest.
In the rainforest, you'll track an abundance of wildlife, including primates and game birds, and record their behavior.

Monitor macaws.
From a boat, observe and count these colorful birds at 500-meter intervals.

Take fish census.
The fish practically jump out of the water onto the team's hand-made rods and nets. Measure, weigh, and identify the species of everything you catch.

Track caimans.
Take to the river at night to find these smaller relatives of the alligator. The team will locate caimans by shining headlights that reflect back when they catch their eyes. You'll safely capture, measure, and release any caimans you catch.

Count bats.
After dark when these nocturnal creatures are active, head out on the river to tally the bats that fish just above the surface of the water.

Between activities, you'll relax on the riverboat, enjoy the roof deck bar, or peruse the library. Upon request, the crew may even take you on short canoe excursions.

MEET THE OTHER SCIENTISTS

Accommodations and Food

Accommodations and Food

Option for single and couples rooms

Air conditioning

Home-cooked South American cuisine

You’ll stay on one of the project’s restored rubber-boom-era vessels as you meander up the Amazon. These historic boats offer private, air-conditioned cabins with attached bathrooms. Towels and toiletries are all provided; cabins and toilets are cleaned daily and laundry can be done every few days.

After mornings and afternoons in the field, you can head to the air-conditioned dining room and be treated to an array of local delicacies as well as familiar offerings like roast beef and freshly-caught fish. The large dining room is also used for lectures, movies, and dancing.

Mid-morning coffee and afternoon tea (and cakes), are served daily, and beverages are available on the upper deck.

“Research riverboat in western Amazon ”

It is great to be a part of the conservation plan which has allowed this part of the Amazon to return to its original natural state. The riverboat was comfortable, the staff was expert in their field, positive and helpful, and the data collection was primarily done on small rivercraft. For those who are concerned about walking in the forest, there are a dozen other activities on the river and you choose which research birds/ mammals are of your interest each evening for the next day.

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Gertrud Dingermann|Wednesday, January 21, 2015

“The "Black Waters" of the Samiria River”

The PI Dr. Bodmer was on the boat and gave several talks. For more than 30 years he has been involved in conservation and communal projects. On our way back we visited a village. The Cocama people are actively involved in conservation and Dr. Bodmer is kind of a "father figure"

One could choose from several projects every day. You could observe pink river dolphins, wading birds, macaws on their way from or to their feeding trees, catch, weigh, measure (and release) fish. At dusk fishing bats were on the agenda and after dinner you could join a boat looking for caymans.

There were terrestrial transects too. Howler monkeys, coatis and other interesting information on the way.

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John Seidel|Tuesday, December 09, 2014

“Great experience and a worthwhile cause.”

I went on Team 7 of this expedition from Nov 7 to 23 2014. The expedition was well organized the activities could be varied at your choosing. The boat was very comfortable with a great crew and good food. The research is very involving and hands on. The resident scientists are very knowledgeable and friendly. The research is making a difference in both the physical world but in the culture of the Cocama indians. From the Hotel Casa Morey in Iquitos to the final day you will enjoy and be amazed at the accomplishments and impact of Dr Richard Bodmer chief Earthwatch Scientist. Its hot, buggy and a good workout but its a great Earthwatch Expedition.

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Regina Anavy|Friday, September 26, 2014

“Truly Amazing!”

If you're interested in tropical ecology, I highly recommend this trip. Ditto if you like boats and are fascinated with Amazonia. I learned so much and thoroughly enjoyed the field surveys. You sign up every evening for the next day's trips, by boat or by land (hiking), and you can do as many or as little as you like. The boat has air conditioning and now has hot water. The cabins are comfortable and the food is ample and delicious. Drinkable water is provided at all times. I went at the beginning of September for two weeks and was sad to leave. P.S. The sunsets on the river are spectacular. Don't forget your camera.

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Bill Pretsch|Sunday, June 08, 2014

“Fun Trip”

A very diverse experience, between birds, mammals, plants, trees and fish. Definately somthing for everyone.

I took fishing tackle which was a waste of time. Bring cameras with extra data storage as lots to film. Binoculars a must have.

The 2 kilometer walk in the jungle is a must do, but will cause dehydration. Suggest wearing a T shirt under long sleeve shirt as mosqutoes will normally not get throughthe two layers.

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Mary Rowe|Monday, April 14, 2014

“Liked it so much I did it twice.”

You can't beat this project for comfortable immersion in the Amazon Rainforest. I did it both times when the water was high, because it was such an unusual experience, but if you like to hike, you will get more hiking opportunities during the low water season. (Low/high water doesn't refer to rain, but rather to the seasonal floods that come from the Andes.)

We saw many animals, including dolphins and macaws, and just hearing howler monkeys is a real treat.

We got lots of talks from the researchers and there are a variety of tasks to choose from each day.

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Maria Chatzinakis|Saturday, February 15, 2014

“My experience on the Amazon River and its tributaries on a riverboat”

This was my second time doing this project, that's how good it is; I've done 15. The accommodations were comfortable and the food was wonderful as were the lectures. Dr. Bodmer and the staff were very caring and looked after our needs.

The first evening on board, we were given a lecture on the geological history of the area. I liked getting up predawn and going bird counting; seeing the sun rise over the Amazon was beautiful. Breakfast was great. Then onto counting pink and gray dolphins. After lunch there were fish counts. There were treks into the forest in AM and PM; which I didn't do. Late afternoon, we went up to the top deck and watched the sunset. Then onto dinner and a lecture and briefing on the days counts (after we entered the days data into the computer), and then caiman counting. We did as many as we wanted. Seeing these amazing animals and photographing them was fabulous. Even though I wasn't a birdwatcher, I did get into it as there were so may beautiful ones to see. It was a worthwhile and wonderful experience. I did like the December one better as it was dryer, in fact there was a drought.

On our weekend off we visited various villages and even witnessed a kindergarten graduation. It was so cute when they marched in all dressed up and danced with each other and then with their parents.

I heartily recommend this project. I felt like I was doing something really important, surveying the health of the Amazon and its tributaries

Maria Chatzinakis

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Gerhard Rehmann|Thursday, February 06, 2014

“Unforgettable”

Richard, the chief investigator, gave us an interesting lecture on the history of the Amazon basin and the ecology of the Varzea, the areas that are regularly flooded.

There was a rich offer of activities to take part and we were free to choose among them as best we could.

You would start the day before dawn, go up the river on a canoe and watch the colourful parrots cross the river.

After a healthy breakfast you might switch to a bigger boat and count river dolphins.

If you're happier on solid earth, go for a 'transect' i.e. walk a few miles through the jungle and record every animal you see.

As for fishes, you may go fishing and count species and number of your catch. Yes, Piranhas may well be among them.

Have you ever tried to count a thousand? Here you will count several thousands of birds on the river bench.

Late in the evening, after a splendid sunset, you may either watch the milky way as clear as you never saw it before.

Or you go on another canoe excursion and try to spot alligators on the river banks in the light of a torch.

On your free afternoon, you might visit the neighboring village or experience a spectacular tropical thunderstorm.

One of the most exciting excursions was a night walk into the jungle, but be careful: the most beautiful caterpillars might be the most poisonous, too.

The staff is very knowledgeable and if you're lucky, the indian guides give you some insight into their traditions. I even was treated with an indian ceremony to 'clean my soul'.